Some very interesting points since I last commented.
I just wanted to note briefly with regard to this:
I suspect this entire thing about how the religious significance of Christmas being taken away and only Christian displays are being targeted etc is really a backlash because the Christians are so vocal about other issues like abortion, homosexuality and even evolution.
that it isn't all Christian churches/groups who take a hard-line stance on these issues, and by no means all those whose teaching is opposed to abortion, say, would ever advocate militancy over it. I'm an Anglican by birth (Episcopalian, for the North Americans), though I've drifted away in recent years. My church has no problem whatsoever with evolution. It has softened its stance on homosexuality, and of course many priests are gay and, in the US, there is now a gay bishop (though I'm aware that has caused many problems within the church). Its teaching does not approve abortion, but decisions are left up to individual conscience.
I don't disagree with the general thrust of your observation, Metwin1, but I did want to point out that it's a vocal minority, as ever, who is most noticeably strident about these issues. (I don't, by the way, intend or wish to pass judgement about anyone's personal views on any of those issues; I respect people's right to hold whatever view they do. It's the violence outside abortion clinics, or stoning or abuse against gays, etc, which I object strongly to, and I agree with Metwin1 that there is definitely a question about whether it's right to impose a certain moral stance on others who don't share those religious beliefs. If it's by the will of the people as a whole, fine; if it's by loud shouting on the part of a noisy minority, not so fine.).
Wendy
